Town self-funds 'tablet telemedicine' to retain seniors

Donna Cusano

In an effort by an affluent Connecticut town, New Canaan, to retain older adults in their homes, a pilot of ten residents aged 70 to 85 will receive iPads or Acer tablets, enabling them to teleconference with a nurse two to three times weekly. They will also be given telehealth equipment, but there is no indication in the article whether device data will be uploadable through the tablet to be reviewed by the nurse. The town approved the program in partnership with Connecticut’s Health and Human Services Commission, but the $24,000 program is being paid for by privately raised funds. Why keep older adults in town? 23% of adults are 65+ and pay over $20 million annually in property tax. Hat tip to Laurie Orlov of Aging in Place Technology. Pilot program aims to position New Canaan on vanguard of health care change (New Canaan News)